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A Guide to Reflection on Ministry
Prayer: Almighty God, in every age you have called out men and women to be
your faithful servants. We believe that you now have called us to join
that great company who seek to follow you. Grant unto us today and always
a clear vision of your call and strength to fulfill the ministry assigned
to us. We pray in the name of Christ. Amen.
Reflection questions:
1. How in the past semester do you feel you have seen clear visions of His
call to ministry?
2. How have you responded to these visions and this calling?
– How have you walked in obedience and faithful following?
– How have you failed to fulfill the calling God has given you?
– How do you feel about each of these?
When have you felt unclear about what God is calling you to in ministry?
– What were the circumstances of that lack of clarity?
o What was happening in your life at that time?
– What feelings or thoughts did this lack of clarity bring up for
you?
o What were your feeling or thoughts about yourself, about
others or about God?
– Has clarity come or are you still waiting?
o If you are waiting-how are you dealing with the silence?
With hope, anticipation, impatience, discouragement-other?
Read John 20:4-19. Prayerfully reflect on the passage. Ask the Lord to
show you Himself, and to show you yourself.
* How do you think Peter felt as the scene unfolds?
Identify the variety of emotions that he may have experienced.
* How in the past semester have you experienced what Peter may have
been
experiencing?
* How does Jesus respond to him?
o What does this say about who He is and how He feels about
Peter?
* In what places of your life do you need to receive what Jesus is
saying and
demonstrating to Peter?
* What does Jesus call Peter to?
* DO you have a clear vision of what Jesus has called you to? Is it
specific or
more general, like his calling to Peter?
Pray and quietly listen
Continue by thinking through your future calling, using the following
questions in light of what you just heard from the Lord.
1. What visions do you currently have for your call to ministry?
– Where is God calling you to ministry?
– What people has he called you to?
– What tasks has he called you to do?
– What is it that you need to follow, be and do, to fulfill this
calling?
o From God?
o From others?
“Faith in the value and meaning of life, even in the face of despair and
death, is the second principle of Christian leadership. This seems so
obvious that it is often taken for granted and overlooked.
But for a man (woman) with a deep-rooted faith in the value and meaning of
life, every experience holds a new promise, every encounter carries a new
insight and every event brings a new message. But these promises,
insights, and messages have to be discovered and made visible. A Christian
leader is not a leader because he (she) announced a new idea and tries to
convince others of its worth; he(she) is a leader because he (she) faces
the world with eyes full of expectation, with the expertise to take away
the veil that covers its hidden potential. Christian leadership is called
ministry precisely to express that in the service of others new life can be
brought about. It is this service which gives eyes to see the flower
breaking through the cracks in the street, ears to hear a word of
forgiveness muted by hatred and hostility, and hands to feel new life under
the cover of death and destruction.” From The Wounded Healer Henry Nouwen
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